SC To Hear Plea Seeking Inauguration Of New Parliament Building By President Today

India

oi-Deepika S

The Supreme Court is set to hear a plea seeking a direction that the new Parliament building should be inaugurated by the President of India on May 28.

A bench of Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice PS Narasimha will hear the petition.

The petition argues that by not including President Draupadi Murmu in the inauguration of the new parliament building, the Central government violated the Constitution of India.

“Parliament is the supreme legislative body of India. Parliament consists of the President and the two Houses — the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha,” the plea filed by Supreme Court lawyer CR Jaya Sukin read.

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The petition also claims that the President has the power to summon and prorogue either House.

“The President has the power to dissolve the Parliament or the Lok Sabha,” the plea stated.

The petition argued that the Central government did not invite the President to the inauguration ceremony, which was “inappropriate”.

“The President is an integral part of the Parliament. Why was the President kept away from the foundation stone laying ceremony? Now the President is not invited to the inauguration ceremony. This decision of the government is not appropriate,” the plea said.

In a big boost to BJP, 25 parties are expected to attend the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday even as 20 Opposition parties have decided to boycott the event.

Nineteen parties, including Congress, have decided to boycott the event, saying they find no value in a new building when the soul of democracy has been sucked out.

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The opposition has raised objections to the Parliament building inauguration by the prime minister, claiming this was an insult to the highest constitutional office of the President of India.

Besides, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said if Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla does not inaugurate the new Parliament building, his party would not attend the event.